Summer brings many opportunities to throw a party – weddings, backyard barbecues or just because. Help your party stand out from the rest by adding unique lighting details.

Candles might seem like a conventional lighting option, but if you arrange them in a new and different way, they can add a soft, DIY feel to your event. Cluster them into groups along your tables, float them in bowls of water for a whimsical element, or suspend them from your floral arrangements.

White Christmas lights don’t have to sit in boxes in your garage until December. Bring them out a few months early to decorate the trees in your backyard or create a canopy above your seating arrangement.

Lanterns have become a huge trend in outdoor weddings but can easily be incorporated into your barbecue for fun, safe lighting. Add some color to your lanterns for another unique, personal touch. If you don’t mind shelling out a few more dollars, you can rent glass lanterns for your indoor venue to add some playful elegance to the affair.